Feeding mechanism for sewing machines



May 26, 1942. H. HACKLANDER FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES FiledNov. 19, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 1942. H. HACKLANDEIQ 2,284,471

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Nov 19, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet2 I ]6 1 a I ,"1 a I! J0 z i l {A 4 but? 7" u 20 24 -37 526F524 i F 49H13 [U I h a;

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Haclilancler May 26, 1942. H. HACKLANDER 2,234,471 FEEDING MECHANISM FORSEWING MACH INES Filed NOV. 19, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 26,1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINESHans Hacklander, Linden, N. J., assignor to The Singer ManufacturingCompany,

Elizabeth,

12 Claims.

This invention relates to sewing machines of the cup-feed type and hasto do more particularly with an improved high-speed actuating mechanismfor rotating the feed-cup thereof.

The present invention has for its primary object the provision of animproved and novel feed-cup drive incorporating therein a ball orcylinder clutch capable of sustained high speeds of operation.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improvedfeed-cup drive which can be applied to conventional fur machines alreadyon the market with only a small amount of alteration.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear,the invention comprises the devices, combination and arrangement .ofparts hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawingsof a preferred embodiment of the invention, from which the severalfeatures of the invention and the advantages attained thereby will bereadily understood by those skilled in the art.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken in a plane at right angles tothe axis of the mainshaft, showing the essentials .of the improvedfeed-cup driving mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of the feed-throw adjusting andlocking screw.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken through the forward portion ofthe machine-frame, showing the improved clutch partly in section and theactuating connections thereof in elevation.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken through one of the clutch-sections toillustrate the internal Workings of the clutch.

Fig. 5 is a rear elevational view of the bellcrank lever employed forseparating the pressercup from the feed-cup, showing its connection withthe lower guide-rod of the overhanging presser-cup supporting bracket.

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the machine.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged perspective view of the clutch assembly and itsoperating arm.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the novel actuating lever usedto operate the clutch.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the machine illustrated is amodification of the machine forming the subject of the U. S. patent toR. L. Plumley, No. 897,486, dated Sep. 1, 1908, and comprises a frameincluding a rectangular standard I formed with a lateral extension 2.Journaled in bearings 3 in the standard I is a transverse main-shaft 4having fixed thereon a belt-pulley 5 and a plurality of actuatinge'ccentrics for operating the stitch-forming mechanism and the feedingmechanism. Supported in a bearing boss 6 integral with the frame abovethe lateral extension 2 is a driven feed-cup 1 which has yieldin'glycooperating therewith a presser cup 8 carried on the bracket 9 supportedby two vertically spaced parallel guide-rods l0 and I 0 endwise slidablyreceived in the front and rear walls of the standard I.

The stitch-forming mechanism of the machine illustrated is of commonconstruction and comprises a needle I I and a complemental looper l2.The needle II is carried in the exposed end of a horizontal needle-barl3 journaled in the front and rear walls of the standard I and endwisereciprocated by the eccentric M through the yoke 15. The looper I2 iscarried by a looper-frame l6 actuated from the main-shaft 4 in a mannerfully disclosed in the above mentioned Plumley patent.

Referring now to the novel feeding mechanism, it will be seen in Fig. 1that the mainshaft 4 has secured thereto an actuating eccentric llembraced by the upper end of a pitman It connected at its lower endpreferably by a shouldered screw i9 to the rearward end of anoscillatable lever 26 slotted horizontally as at 2| and fulcrumed upon apivot-stud 22 which extends through said slot. The pivot-stud 22 isadapted to be adjusted endwise of the slot 2| and is formed with athreaded extension which passes through a slot 23 in the standard I,(see Figs. 1 and 2), and may be clamped in any desired adjusted positionlengthwise of the slot by the thumb-nut 24. Mounted on the extension ofthe pivot-stud 22 between the thumb-nut 24 and the wall of themachine-standard is a dished spring-plate 25 formed with a pointer 26cooperating with indicia on the machine-standard, the dishedspring-plate 25 serving as means for frictionally holding the thumb-nut24 against accidental turning during the operation of the machine, andthe pointer 26 and indicia providing means to facilitate obtaining thedesired length of work-feeding stroke.

Connected to the depending forward end of the oscillatable lever 23 isone limb 21' of a substantially N-shaped lever 21 apertured as at 28 and29 to provide spaced bearings receiving the transverse feed-actuatingshaft 30 rotatably journaled at its opposite ends in the side walls ofthe lateral extension 2. The N-shaped lever 21 is freely fulcrumed onthe transverse feed-actuating shaft 36 and it is adapted to beoscillated about the axis of the feed-actuating shaft 36 by the lever20. The oscillations of the N-s'haped lever 21 are transmitted throughits other limb 21" to a clutch actuating-arm 3| (see Figs. 4 and 7)fastened by three screws 32 to a clutchmember 33 disposed within acavity 34 formed in a clutch-housing 35. The clutch-housing is rigidlyfastened upon the transverse feed-actuating shaft 30 by two set-screws36 so that the intermittent rotary motion of the housing 35 imparted tothe same through the clutch actuating-arm 3| and its connections may betransmitted directly to the feed-actuating shaft 36.

The unitary clutch-assembly embodied in the machine shown in thedrawings is of the intermittent or one-way type and its details ofconstruction are similar to those of the clutch disclosed in mycopending application Serial No. 293,155, filed Sep. 2, 1939. Referringin a general way to the clutch assembly illustrated in Fig. 4 of thedrawings, the housing 35 is formed with spaced circular chambers orcavities 34 and-31. Cavity 34 houses that part of the clutch whichimparts to the feed-cup 1 its work-advancing movements, while cavity 31houses that part of the clutch which retains or prevents retrogrademovement of the feed-cup. As described hereinbefore, the actuating-arm3! is rigidly fastened by the three screws 32 to the clutch-member 33disposed within the cavity 34. The clutchmember is preferably formedwith three suitable undercuts or recesses 38 providing inclined surfaces39. Disposed in each of the recesses 38 is a short cylinder or roller 43which is engaged by a plunger 4| backed by a coil-spring 42, the plunger4| acting to yieldingly bias the roller 4|) toward the narrow end of therecess and wedge the same between the clutch-member 33 and the peripheryof the cavity 34. In order to increase the life of the clutch, eachinclined surface 39 is fitted with a hardened steel wear-plate 43. Todistribute the wear of the rollers 43 across a substantial area of thehardened steel wearplates 43 the center of the cavity 34 is slightlyeccentric to the longitudinal axis of the feedactuating shaft 30. Thisslight eccentricity is clearly shown in Fig. 4, wherein at the bottom ofthe cavity 34 the periphery of the clutchmember 33 is shown to besubstantially in contact, with the outer wall of the cavity 34, while atthe top of the cavity the periphery of the clutch-member is spaced fromsaid outer wall. This slight eccentricity between the cavity 314 and theclutch-member 33 permits the rollers 40 to travel in and out of therecesses 38, and in different relative positions of the clutch-memberand the housing 35 the rollers have line-contact with the surfaces ofthe wear-plates at differ ent points lengthwise of the latter.

It will be understood that the portion of the clutch which acts as aretainer and prevents retrograde movement of the feed-cup l is housed inthe cavity 37, and that the elements comprising this portion of theclutch-assembly are duplicates of the work-advancing portion of. theclutch-assembly above described and therefore need no furtherdescription. It will be understood, of course, that in this portion ofthe clutch-assembly the clutch-member 44 (see (Fig. 3) is, in effect, alocking member and is rigidly fastened preferably to the wall of themachineframe by a plurality of screws 45 disposed in countersunk holes46 in the machine-frame and threaded into the locking member 44. The

countersunk holes 45, at their outer ends, are adapted to be closed by acircular plate 41 mounted upon the reduced end-portion 48 of thefeed-actuating shaft 36 and clamped to rotate therewith by a nut 43threaded upon said reduced end-portion. In operation, as the N- shapedlever 27 is oscillated on the actuating shaft 36, the work-advancingportion of the clutch assembly functions to intermittently turn thefeed-cup in a direction to advance the work past the stitchingmechanism, while the remaining portion of the clutch assembly functionsto prevent retrograde motion of the feed-cup Fixed upon the transversefeed-actuating shaft 33 and straddled by the main body of the N-shapedlever 21 and its limb 21" is a suitably formed gear-wheel 53 meshingwith a second gear 5| fixed upon the lower'end of a vertical feed-cupsupporting shaft 52 journaled in the bearing boss 6 of the machineframe. At its upper end the vertical shaft 52 has secured thereon thefeed-cup 1. Integral with the vertical shaft 52 beneath the feed-cup lis a flange 53 (see Fig. 3) which is disposed in a circular recess 54formed in the top of the bearing boss 6. The flange 53 acts with theupper face of the hub of gear 5| to engage betweenthem the opposite endsof the bearing boss 6 and. thereby confine the vertical shaft 52 againstendwise movement. With the shaft 52 so confined the feed-cup I may beadjusted vertically up and down without the necessity of disturbing thegear 5|.

Cooperating with the feed-cup is the pressercup 8 freely journaled upona pivot-stud 55 clamped in the free end of the overhanging bracket 9.The bracket 9 is supported by the two horizontal, parallel guide-rods H1and I3. The presser-cup 6 is adapted to be yieldingly biased toward thefeed-cup and to this end the guide-rod [6 supports a coil-spring 56 oneend of which bears against the inner face of the front wall of thestandard I, While the other end acts against a regulating nut 51threaded upon the guide-rod Ii]. The regulating nut 51 is providedsothat the force exerted by the spring 56 can be adjusted to the requiredamount.

To facilitate the introduction and removal of the work from between thefeed-cup I and presser-cup 8, treadle or knee-shift controlled means isprovided for shifting the presser-cup 8 away from the feed-cup Thismeans is best shown in Figs. 1 and 6, and comprises a bell-crank lever58 pivoted upon a stationary fulcrum-rod 59 fixed in the side walls ofthe machine-standard The bell-crank lever 58 is formed with a verticallydisposed limb 66 forked at its upper end to straddle the reduced portion6| of the guide-rod l0, and with a substantially horizontal limb 62apertured at its free end to receive the connection 63 from the usualtreadle or kneeshift (not shown). In Fig. 6 it will be seen that thefree end of the horizontal limb 62 of the bell-crank 68 is oifset sothat the connection 63 from the treadle or knee-shift will not interferewith the operating elements of the feeding mechanism.

To provide for lubricating the internal workings of the clutch-assemblyand the longer of I the two bearings of the N-shaped lever 21, thefeed-actuating shaft 30 is formed with a longitudinal groove 64 which,at its outer end, registers with the lower end of a vertical oil-hole 65in the wall of the lateral extension 2, as shown in, Fig. 3.Periodically oil is introduced into the oil-hole 65 from which it isconducted by the groove 64 to the interior of the clutch-assembly andthe bearing 29.

From the above description, it will be understood-that the presentinvention contemplates an improved feeding mechanism for a cup-feedsewing machine, which feeding mechanism has incorporated in it elementsdesigned and apportioned to be successfully operated at high speedWithout excessive vibration and without variation in the length of thestitches.

It will be obvious that the present invention is susceptible of somechange and modification without departing from the spirit thereof andfor this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting the inventionto the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts hereinshown and described except as hereinafter claimed.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention what I claim hereinis:

1. In a sewing machine having a frame, stitchforming mechanism, andcooperating feed-cups exteriorly of said frame for sustaining andfeeding fabric sections; a main-shaft; a feed-actuating shaft having agear-wheel mounted thereon; a shaft carrying one of said feed-cups and agear in mesh with said gear-wheel; a clutch-assembly located on one sideof said gear-Wheel for imparting operative movements to saidfeed-actuating shaft, said clutch-assembly comprising a unit including awork-advancing section and an adjacently positioned retainer section;and connections disposed on the other side of said gearwheel andoperated by said main-shaft for actuating said clutch-assembly, therebyto impart feed-advance movements to said feed-cup.

2. A sewing machine having, in combination, a frame including a standardand a lateral extension; stitch-forming devices including a needlecarried by a reciprocatory needle-bar; cooperating feed-cups forsustaining and feeding fabric sections past said stitch-forming devices;a shaft supported in said extension and carrying one of said feed-cups;a main-shaft journaled in said frame; a feed-actuating shaft alsojournaled in said frame and having a, gear-wheel fixed thereon, a gearon said feed-cup supporting shaft in mesh with the gear-wheel on saidfeed-actuating shaft; a clutch-assembly also mounted on said ifeed-actuating shaft entirely to one side of said gear-wheel, saidclutch-assembly comprising a unit including a work-advancing section andan adjacently positioned retainer section; and connections disposed onthe other side of said gearwheel and operated by said main-shaft foractuating said clutch-assembly to impart intermittent feed-advancemovements to said feed-cup.

3. A sewing machine having, in combination, a frame including a standardand a lateral extension; a main-shaft journaled in said frame;stitch-forming mechanism including a needle and a complementalloop-taker; cooperating feedcups for sustaining and feeding fabricsections past said stitch-forming devices; a shaft rotatably mounted insaid extension and having fixed thereon one of said feed-cups and agear; a feedactuating shaft rotatably journaled in said frame and havingmounted thereon a clutch-assembly and a gear-wheel in mesh with the gearon said shaft supporting said feed-cup; a lever fulcrumed on saidfeed-actuating shaft and having oppositely directed limbs of which oneis connected directly to said clutch-assembly; and means connecting theother limb of said lever to be operated by said main-shaft, thereby toimpart feedadvance'movements to said feed-cup.

4. A sewing machine having, in combination, a frame including a standardand a lateral extension; stitch-forming devices including a needle and acomplemental loop-taker, cooperating feedcups for sustaining and feedingfabric sections past said stitch-forming devices; a shaft rotatablymounted in said extension and carrying one of said feed-cups and havinga gear fastened thereto; a main-shaft journaled in said frame; afeed-actuating shaft also journaled in said frame and having agear-wheel fixed thereon in mesh with the gear on said feed-cupsupporting shaft; a clutch-assembly also mounted on said feed actuatingshaft entirelyto one side of said gearwheel; a lever fulcrumed upon saidfeed-actuating shaft and having oppositely directed limbs, one of whichis connected to said clutch-assembly and the other of which straddlessaid gearwheel; and means operatively connecting said lever to saidmain-shaft.

5. In a sewing machine having a frame, stitchforming mechanism, andcooperating feed-cups exteriorly of said frame for sustaining andfeeding fabric sections; a feed-actuating shaft journaled in said frame;a feed-cup supporting shaft rotatably mounted in said frame and arrangedsubstantially normal to said feed-actuating shaft, said feed-cupsupporting shaft having a gear fixed on its lower end; a gear-wheelmounted on said feed-actuating shaft to one side of the feedcupsupporting shaft and in mesh with the gear on said feed-cup supportingshaft; a clutch-assembly mounted on said feed-actuating shaft on theother side of said feed-cup supporting shaft; and means for actuatingsaid clutch for imparting intermittent movement to said feed-actuatingshaft.

6. In a sewing machine having a frame, a main-shaft journaled therein,stitch-forming mechanism and cooperating feed-cups exteriorly of saidframe for sustaining and feeding fabric sections; a feed-actuating shaftjournaled in said frame; a feed-cup supporting shaft rotatably mountedin said frame and arranged substantially normal to said feed-actuatingshaft; a gear fixed on said feed-cup supporting shaft; a gearwheelmounted on said feed-actuating shaft to one side of the feed-cupsupporting shaft and in mesh with the gear on said feed-cup supportingshaft; a clutch-assembly mounted on said feedactuating shaft on theother side of said feedcup supporting shaft; a lever fulcrumed on saidfeed actuating shaft and having oppositely directed limbs of which oneis connected to said clutch-assembly; and means connecting the otherlimb of said lever to said main-shaft for actuation thereby.

'7. In a sewing machine having a frame, a main-shaft journaled therein,stitch-forming mechanism and cooperating feed-cups exteriorly of saidframe for sustaining and feeding fabric sections; a feed-actuating shaftjournaled in said frame; a feed-cup supporting shaft rotatably mountedin said frame and arranged substantially normal to said feed-actuatingshaft; a gear fixed on said feed-cup supporting shaft; a gear-wheelmounted on said feed-actuating shaft to one side of the feed-cupsupporting shaft and in mesh with the gear on said feed-cup supportingshaft; a clutch-assembly mounted on said feed-actuating shaft on theother side of said feed-cup supporting shaft; a lever fulcrumed on saidfeed-actuating shaft at opposite sides of said gear-wheel and havingoppositely directed limbs of which one is connected directly to saidclutchassembly; and means connecting the other limb of said lever tosaid main-shaft for actuation thereby.

8. In a sewing machine having a frame, a main-shaft journaled therein,stitch-forming mechanism and cooperating feed-cups exteriorly of saidframe for sustaining and feeding fabric sections; a feed-actuating shaftjournaled in said frame; a feed-cup supporting shaft rotatably mountedin said frame and arranged substantially normal to said feed-actuatingshaft; a gear fixed on said feed-cup Su porting shaft; a gear-Wheelmounted on said feed-actuating shaft to one side of the feed-cupsupporting shaft and in mesh with the gear on said feed-cup supportingshaft; a clutch-assembly mounted on said feed-actuating shaft on theother side of said feed-cup supporting shaft and having an operatingarm; a lever fulcrumed on said feed-actuating shaft at opposite sides ofsaid gear-wheel and having oppositely directed limbs of which one isconnected to the operating arm of said clutchassembly; and meansconnecting the other limb of said lever to said main-shaft for actuationthereby, said last named means adapted to be adjusted for effecting achange in the workadvancing stroke of said feed-cups.

9. A sewing machine having, in combination, a frame including a standardand a lateral extension; a main-shaft journaled in said frame;stitch-forming mechanism; cooperating feed-cups exteriorly of said framefor sustaining and feeding fabric sections; a feed-actuating shaft; a

feed-cup supporting shaft rotatably mounted in said lateral extensionand arranged substantially V shaft and having oppositely directed limbsof which one is connected to said clutch operating arm; and meansconnecting the other limb of said lever to said main-shaft for actuationthereby.

10. In a sewing machine having a frame, stitchforming mechanism, andcooperating feed-cups eXteriorly of said frame for supporting andfeeding fabric sections; a main-shaft; a feed-actuating shaft havingagear-wheel mounted thereon;

a feed-cup supporting shaft journaled in said' frame and having fixedthereon a gear in mesh with the gear-wheel on said feed-actuating shaft;a clutch-assembly mounted on said feed-actuating shaft for impartingintermittent movements to the same; a substantially N-shaped leverfulcrumed intermediate the extremities of its limbs on saidfeed-actuating shaft and operatively connected to said clutch-assembly,and means connecting the N-shaped lever to said main-shaft for actuationthereby;

11. In a sewing machine having a frame, stitchforming mechanism, andcooperating feed-cups exteriorly of said frame for supporting andfeeding fabric sections; a main-shaft; a feed-actuating shaft disposedsubstantially parallel to said main-shaft and having a gear-wheelsecured thereon; a feed-cup supporting shaft rotatably mounted in saidframe and arranged substantially normal to said feed-actuating shaft; agear fixed on said feed-cup supporting shaft and adapted to mesh withthe gear-wheel on said feed-actuating shaft; a clutch-assembly mountedon said feed-actuating shaft for transmitting intermittent motion .tothe same; a horizontal substantially N-shaped lever fulcrumedintermediate the extremities of its limbs on said feed-actuating shaftand operatively connected to said clutch-assembly; and means connectingthe N- shaped lever to said main-shaft for actuation thereby.

12. In a sewing machine having a frame, stitchforming mechanism, andcooperating feed-cups exteriorly of said frame for sustaining andfeeding fabric sections ;a main-shaft; a feed-actuating shaft'having agear-wheel mounted thereon; a shaft carrying one of said feed-cups and agear in mesh with said gear-wheel; a clutch-assembly mounted on thefeed-actuating shaft on one side of said gear-wheel for impartingoperative movements to said shaft, said clutch-assembly comprising aunit including juxtapositioned workadvancing and retainer sections ofwhich the latter is secured to said frame; and connections disposed onthe other side of said gear-wheel and operated by said main-shaft foractuating the work-advancing section of said clutch-assembly, thereby toimpart feed-advance movements to the feed-cup. HANS HACKLANDER.

